Iran hangs three men in public for rape, kidnap

Published: Wednesday, October 17, 2007, 18:07 [IST]

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TEHRAN, Oct 17 (Reuters) Iran hanged three men in public today for kidnapping and raping two women, Iranian media said, the latest in a series of executions in the Islamic state criticised by rights groups and the European Union.

The convicted men were put to death at the site of their crime in the southern city of Shiraz, the Fars News Agency said, without giving details on the location.

''These three criminals were charged with kidnapping, disturbing public security, rape and molestation,'' it quoted Shiraz Public Prosecutor Jaber Baneshi as saying.

''Disguised as taxi drivers, they kidnapped two women and molested them after taking them to gardens near Shiraz,'' he said.

The number of executions in Iran, many in public, has risen since July with the launch of a summer crackdown on ''immoral behaviour''.